TORONTO (CP) - Former sports broadcaster and radio host Pat Marsden died Thursday of lung cancer. He was 69.

Marsden, a colourful character who enjoyed a laugh, a drink, a flutter at the casino, friends and most of all his family, was diagnosed in January and spent time at Sunnybook Hospital.

"He had to get out of here because he couldn't get a rum and coke," his wife T.A. said in a radio interview on Thursday morning.

She said Marsden died around 6 a.m. ET.

Marsden spent eight years as morning host of the Toronto all-sports radio station, leaving in May 2004. He is perhaps best known, however, for his play-by-play coverage of the Canadian Football League telecasts in the 1970s and 1980s. He also worked as host of the 1972 Canada-Soviet Union hockey summit series telecasts.

He was diagnosed with cancer after visiting his doctor about a pain in his lower back. Lung cancer was found and had spread into his bones.

"It's over for me, I know that," he told the Ottawa Sun in February. "I expect I'll be gone sooner rather than later. I don't think I'll get more than six months. This is one you don't beat. There's no chance. Funny, eh? I've had every sickness known to man in my life except syphilis. I never thought I'd get this"

Marsden said he had been a smoker since the age of four.

"But I have no regrets," he told the Sun. "I'm 69 and I've had a good life with lots of laughs and lots of friends. Lots of great memories."

Marsden was an Ottawa native, who started a career in radio as sports director of CKOY. He went on to become the longtime sports director of CTV's Toronto outlet, CFTO, returning to radio at CFRB after a stormy exchange with his boss.

After retiring and moving to Florida, he returned to The Fan in Toronto, commuting from the U.S. for the first few years. He and his family eventually moved back to Toronto.

The station opted not to renew his contract in 2004.

"It happens," he told the Sun. "If they don't want you, they don't want you. I'm finished with the business. It's like you don't matter anymore. That's fine. No use worrying about it. You take what comes along in life.'

He is survived by his wife T.A., daughter Taylor, Connor, and children Mike, Patti-Lee, and Ruth Mary, from his first marriage.